Thermal Performance Enhancement of Radiators Employing Nano-Fluid: A Review

This paper reviews various Nanofluids for enhancing thermal performance and the determination of thermal characteristics of heat exchangers/radiators. It has been found that different Nanofluids have been employed on different heat exchanger design for the purpose of determining the thermal characteristic and improving performance. These Nanofluids ranging from based fluid (pure water), Al2O3 , CuO with different nano-particles diameter and volume fraction. Anyway, experimental testing is been carried on various radiators using Nanofluid with better performance enhancement. Another method for determination of thermal characteristics of heat exchanger is the utilization of Computational Fluid Dynamics with Nanofluid. Abundant experiment were carriedout for the nano-fluids preparation using one step and two step method, and were found to be feasible. Studies were conducted for discovery of the mechanism of variation in thermal properties when nano-particles were supplemented in the based fluid. The application of Nanofluid for enhancement of thermal performance of radiators is of advantageous in terms cost, needless design, zero added weight to the existing radiator as compare to other means of enhancement techniques such as increasing surface area to coolant ratio, change of fin and tube material, change of fin design, change of flow arrangement and increasing of radiator core depth.